Contact: Richard Vespucci
For Release: June 20, 2001

Commissioner of Education Vito A. Gagliardi today announced that the
Department of Education is co-sponsoring a summer character education
conference with the School of Education at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
The conference, entitled Summer Institute II  Social Emotional
Learning: Research Validated Models for Character Education, will
be held from August 21 through August 23 at Fairleigh Dickinsons
Florham-Madison campus.

"Character education should be integrated into all aspects of every
schools curriculum, culture and climate," Commissioner Gagliardi
said. "This institute will provide school district staff with valuable
guidance, materials and instruction to continue their commitment to develop
good character in students and staff. I encourage all schools to take
advantage of this opportunity for technical assistance and training."

Administrators, educators, counselors and character education coordinators
who participate in the three-day institute will receive specific training
in a variety of New Jersey Character Education Programs of Merit that
have been found to be well-researched and effective. Each participant
who completes the institute will receive a certificate confirming professional
development hours.

School districts have the option of sending a team of educators to receive
in-depth training in one model; or they may send individual team members
for training in different models, if they have not yet selected a character
education program.

The conference registration deadline is July 10, 2001. For more information
about the summer conference, contact Pat Cantelmo, School of Education,
Fairleigh Dickinson University, 201-692-2631.

Completing its first year, the New Jersey Character Education Partnership
is designed to help public school educators adopt high quality character
education programs that will meet the developmental needs of students
by promoting pro-social student behaviors and creating a caring, disciplined
school climate conducive to learning.

The state committed $4.75 million to fund the first year of the program,
with 99 percent of New Jersey public school districts and approved charter
schools participating in the voluntary initiative. The Governors
budget for 2001-02 includes $4.75 million for second year expansion of
programs.